Mikan S., Caroline H., Caleb S., and Dominic R. show a cake to celebrate the accomplishments of High Point Elementary School Million Word Readers!
"This is your distinguished host, Effie Trinket. The time has come to select 5 courageous boys and girls to represent each district. Would the following tributes please come forward....Congratulations to all our tributes, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" This was the announcement students heard over the intercom every Friday at High Point Elementary School, as Effie Trinket (Principal, Sherry King) announced the Reading Games winners from each grade level. To earn the privilege of selecting a prize from the "cornucopia," students read voraciously for a chance to have their names selected from the weekly drawing. This year, High Point’s courageous boys and girls read thousands of books to earn the privilege of attending the year-end Reading Games celebration, and 90 students each read over 1,000,000 words! In addition, the school-wide word count rose from 120,000,000 last year, to over 240,000,000 this school year! Congratulations to all of our readers, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
Mark Collins of John S. Battle High School receives 2013 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award.
The Yale School of Music is pleased to announce that Mark Collins was among those selected to receive the 2013 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award. The Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award is presented biennially to fifty music educators selected for their outstanding accomplishments teaching music in the nation’s public schools. From a pool of nearly 300 nominees representing 45 states, a panel of music professionals selected this year’s 50 Distinguished Music Educators. The selected educators hail from 32 different states, including the first ever Symposium attendees from Kansas and Mississippi. Award recipients attend, all expenses paid, the Symposium on Music in Schools, which is held every two years at the Yale School of Music as part of its Music in Schools Initiative. The honors will be conferred at the Symposium’s Awards Dinner on Saturday, June 8.
Mr. Collins is a twenty-seven year veteran in instrumental music education and teaches at John S. Battle High School in Bristol, Virginia. He completed undergraduate studies at Tennessee Tech University, an M.Ed. at Milligan College, and an Education Specialist degree in administration from Lincoln Memorial University.
His music ensembles consistently receive the highest awards in concert and marching performance, with individual students receiving multiple state, regional and national awards. In addition to serving public education, he is an adjunct percussion professor at UVA College at Wise. Mr. Collins is a consultant for higher education curriculum and design and has presented at research conferences. He remains active as a performer, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator at events throughout the southeast.
Tyler B., Trinity W., and Cassidy K. are ready for middle school!
The 5th grade students from High Point Elementary traveled to Wallace Middle School on April 10th. While there, the students were able to hear from Wallace Middle School principal, Mr. Lambert and Guidance Counselor, Ms. Ratcliff about expectations for next year. Mr. Lambert told the students of the many exciting opportunities they would be experiencing during middle school. Students were also allowed to tour the school and get a first hand glimpse of what they have to look forward to. Our students seemed very excited about the after school clubs and dances that Mr. Lambert told them about. After the school tour, hosted by current Wallace Middle School students,the students also enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria. Needless to say, our 5th graders are excited to begin this new chapter of their lives!
Students pet "Priscilla" at Bays Mountain Park.
On Friday, April 12, Watauga first graders visited Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. Students were amazed by the Planetarium, where they learned about our Solar System. First graders were also taken on a nature walk by park rangers, and saw deer, bobcats, turtles, snakes, fish, and various birds from our area in the animal habitats. The highlight of the trip for many was hearing the wolves howl or petting “Priscilla” the corn snake. Students returned to Watauga after a picnic lunch in the park. It was a fun and educational day!
Wallace Middle School is proud of its Science Fair Participants!
This year Wallace Middle School’s GATE Program sponsored a school-wide science fair. There were a total of 34 entries submitted by individuals or teams covering such topics as rocket propulsion, aero-dynamics, electricity, chemistry, and magnetism. Students were encouraged to participate by their science teachers and were required to follow the steps of the scientific method. Each group created a presentation board to display pictures and data for each project, and they demonstrated their findings in front of a panel of three judges during the science fair. We are pleased to announce the following winners of the 2013 Wallace Middle School Science Fair: 1st place – Brennon Kimbler: Light Bulb Efficiency; 2nd place – Rielly Self: Rocket Propulsion; and 3rd place – Trey Vance: Does Air Have Weight? Congratulations to all of the participants for a job well done and especially to the winners who will advance to the Regional Science Fair which will be held at Radford University.